a free transfer, after an agreement to sign the player was reached towards the end of May. Assistant manager Gary Brabin confirmed on 2 July that Kenyan striker Taiwo Atieno had not been retained by the club. On 6 July, former Oxford United captain Adam Murray joined Luton on a two-year contract after his release. Home friendlies were arranged against Premier League teams Liverpool and Newcastle United, while Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock were also scheduled to visit Kenilworth Road. A friendly game against Marlow was arranged to mark the 125th anniversary of Luton Town; Marlow being Luton's first ever opponents in the year of the club's formation in 1885. Luton won the game 3–1, and commemorated the occasion by wearing the blue and pink club colours used in 1885. Three trialists, midfielders Stefan Bailey and Ciarán Toner, and Hungarian goalkeeper Matyas Estherhazy, joined Luton for pre-season training. All played in a 5–1 victory over near-neighbours Hitchin Town on 15 July. On 16 July, it was announced that defender Lewis Emanuel had not joined the club for pre-season training and had subsequently been released after four seasons as a Luton player. Dan Walker and Zdeněk Kroča, two further trialists, joined Luton for the latter stages of pre-season. Kroča scored the winning goal in a 1–0 friendly victory over Kilmarnock, while Walker, who had previously been playing for Bedford Town, impressed enough to be offered a one-year contract. He signed for the club on 31 July. August Following a second impressive appearance in a 4–1 victory over a Newcastle United XI, Czech defender Kroča signed a one-year contract. His fellow countryman, defensive midfielder Pavel Besta, also played in the game. Manager Richard Money confirmed that he was finalising a deal to sign Besta and, on 6 August, he too signed a one-year contract. Luton began the season on 14 August with a 2–1 win against Altrincham. Kroča scored on his competitive debut to give Luton the lead, and Matthew Barnes-Homer grabbed the winner in the 88th minute after Altrincham pulled a goal back midway through the second half. Barnes-Homer scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 away victory over Kettering Town on 17 August. He scored two penalties as Kettering finished the match with nine men. Four days later Luton secured a third consecutive victory over Fleetwood Town. The club's 100% record was ended with a 1–1 home draw against newly promoted